Flowers: Lily

Double Blossom Tiger Lily

Flowers: Lily

There are few flowers in our gardens that I have loved more than lilies. The hard part is that the deer in our neighborhoods have loved them even more that I do, eating the stems before the flowers even bloom. The vibrant colors, the height of the flower, the fragance of some of the species … it is a magical flower, indeed.

For a little background, lilies are erect perennial plants with leafy stems and scaly bulbs. Their leaves are usually narrow and their flower are typically either solitary or clustered. The flowers consist of six petal-like segments, which usually form the shape of a trumpet, with a more or less elongated tube. The flowers can also be curved back on itself, or reflexed, to form a turban shape. They can also be less strongly reflexed to form an open cup or bowl shape. Some last for a day and then die; some have little fregrance; still others have fragrant blooms that can last up to three weeks. To me they are glorious and one of the finest flowers designating summer.

White Lily bulb

Beyond the flower is some powerful symbolism of the lily: they are often associated with purity, renewal and transience. In Christian traditions, the white Madonna Lily (aka Easter Lily) represents the Virgin Mary’s purity. Historically the lily is the national flower of Italy where it is featured on the Florentine’s emblem. The white lily on the red background symbolises unity and peace.

Flag of Florence until 1250

And then there is what Jesus of Nazareth says about lilies in Matthew, when the apostles worried about creature comforts:

“And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, Oh you of little faith?” (Matthew 6:28-30 RSV)

This quotation comes in the middle of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus encourages his followers to trust in God as their provider and not worry about material needs like clothing and food.

Soon enough conversations on these gorgeous flowers and scripture moves along to the classic movie, “Lilies of the Field,” staring academy award winner, Sidney Poitier.

William Barrett’s novel, of the same name, is about the character, Homer Smith, played in the movie by Sidney Poitier. Homer Smith is a wandering, ex-GI soldier, who encounters an order of German nuns in Arizona. The nuns persuade Smith to perform odd jobs on their farm in exchange for room and board. Eventually, the tough-as-nails mother superior (played by Lilia Skala) enlists Smith’s help in building a chapel on their farm. Another story of blessings, service and redemption worth revisiting as we fret about our human worries.